Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2012 November 27

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November 27

Keith Baines

I need some(or more)information about Keith Baines(English man) . It's said that he is a contemporary poet,whose poems once appeared in periodicals both in the United States and the United Kingdom,died in 1986. Help really really needed!!! Thank you , sincerely!!! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sharpay90 (talk • contribs) 11:25, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

There seems to be a book: Alice Hughes, Archives of a Muse Poet: Keith Baines (1924-1984) which might repay your perusal. --TammyMoet (talk) 13:19, 27 November 2012 (UTC) Have a look here too. --TammyMoet (talk) 13:22, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

He is mentioned at Le Morte d'Arthur#Later_publications, for his rendition of Le Morte d'Arthur in modern English. Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:37, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Transnational metropolitan areas

Whilst reading the Copenhagen article, it was stated that because of the Øresund Bridge it was becoming part of a greater transnational metropolitan area with Malmo in Sweden, which sparked my curiosity about transnational metropolitan areas, only to find we have no article in general on the topic. After some work searching I finally found Transborder agglomeration, but this is just a listof such areas. Can I ask for ideas and insights on this topic. Thanks.--KTo288 (talk) 13:30, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

"Ideas and insights" is a bit vague - what precisely do you mean? One thought is that in many case these cities would have developed on opposite banks of a river, which only became an international (or inter-territorial) boundary at a later date. Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:42, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

That's true of some. Others are cities near a border, which gradually merged with dormitory towns on the other side, while yet others are towns which have developed either side of an important border post. Warofdreams talk 14:34, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

After reading some of the articles from those on the list, transport links seem to be important, it seems strange to think that because of the bridge Malmo is becoming a dormitary town for Copenhagan, the other thing seems to be financial incentives, where their is a financial benefit from moving goods or people from one side to the other.--KTo288 (talk) 17:26, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

There are also cases where some country had a populated region, some part of which later got acquired some other country (e.g. due to a war), leaving the region split across the two countries. I can't think of examples that I'd say are really metropolitan, though maybe there are some. East and West Berlin pre-unification could be sort of a partway example. 67.119.3.105 (talk) 18:57, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Jerusalem was similarly divided between 1948 and 1967 - the legalities are complicated and contentious, of course, but the de facto situation was that a defended barrier existed in the middle of the city. Nicosia in Cyprus has been in a similar situation since 1974, divided by the Green Line. Andrew Gray (talk) 13:32, 29 November 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for the "insights" wrt division of existing cities, sorry that the word insight is a bit vague, but with my initial line of thought I would never have on my own come up with Berlin pre unification, Jerusalem and Nicosia fitting this description.--KTo288 (talk) 11:36, 1 December 2012 (UTC)

Temple details

There is a temple of Raghavendra swamy near Hosur of Tamil Nadu. Can I get details of the same such as route direction etc.? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.192.75.157 (talk) 13:39, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Is it Raghavendra Swamy Mutt? That link gives you the google map location, which should help. I'm not sure, since Raghavendra Swami apparently founded several temples, but this may be the temple website, which gives contact information for each temple. 184.147.123.169 (talk) 01:35, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Philipp Bouhler and his killings of the disabled

The reference desk does not answer requests for opinions or predictions about future events. Do not start a debate; please seek an internet forum instead.
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
My question is, that scumbag was responsible for the deaths of thousands of disabled people. But he wore glasses, didn't it make him disabled too? Keeeith (talk) 13:57, 27 November 2012 (UTC) There's probably few people around without any deficiency in some way, whether it be physical, emotional or cognitive, but there is obviously great divergence in how 'disabling' different deficiencies are. Not that I want to defend him, but there's nothing illogical in my mind about distinguishing between little and great disabilities. - Lindert (talk) 14:05, 27 November 2012 (UTC) The need for glasses was not considered disabling enough to make someone qualify as Life unworthy of life. By the Nazi logic, to be life unworthy of life you had to somehow be a burden or a threat (long or short term) to society. People with glasses, in and of themselves, constituted neither. --Mr.98 (talk) 14:16, 27 November 2012 (UTC) However, some regimes have executed people with glasses for other reasons.--Shantavira|feed me 15:34, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Recorded speculations about the "origin of energy"?

I know this is not a science question, which is why I place it under "philosophy", or generally speaking, "humanities". Where does energy come from? Are there any recorded philosophical speculations about the origin of energy? For example, the qi in Qigong or the electrical energy that turns on your lightbulb. 140.254.227.120 (talk) 14:22, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Aristotle in "Metaphysics" reasoned that the source of all movement would be some Primum movens or "prime mover," (God, for instance) acting not through pushing on something (which would cause a reaction) but by thought. The prime mover set things moving without being moved itself. Thomas Aquinas and Isaac Newton were in accord with this, if I recall my classics education from many years ago. Aristotle coined the word "energia" or "energy," but its modern use in science ins not the same as his. See Potentiality and actuality for an explanation. Edison (talk) 14:41, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

This is essentially the same question as the origin of matter and the origin of the universe, on which people have been speculating for time immemorial. Carving it down to the origin of energy doesn't seem like a distinction with a difference to me. --Mr.98 (talk) 16:20, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

This IS a science question. To claim otherwise displays a poor understanding of what science is. HiLo48 (talk) 16:42, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

It depends on how you define "science". As Marco polo states below, if you believe that ultimate causes can only be explained in metaphysical terms, then you are talking philosophy. 140.254.121.38 (talk) 20:03, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

If you read "Energy (disambiguation)#Science and philosophy" you'll notice that the word "energy" is used to describe quite different phenomena. The qi in Qigong and the electrical energy that powers a lightbulb are quite different kettles of fish. But lets say you mean energy in its physical sense. When you say "Where does energy come from?", do you mean the concept "energy" or actual energy itself? Gabbe (talk) 17:04, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

I'm not a physicist, but I believe that physicists see the Big Bang as the ultimate origin of all energy in the universe. However, I don't think that scientists understand and agree on the causes of the Big Bang. (See also Cosmogony.) Some (scientists or otherwise) believe that ultimate causes can only be explained in metaphysical terms. Which brings us back to philosophy. Marco polo (talk) 18:55, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

You may or may not wish to contemplate http://mlbible.com/isaiah/40-26.htm.

—Wavelength (talk) 21:18, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Right, because God is definitely the best explanation for a relatively well-understood, observable, and ongoing physical process that has nothing to do with the OP's question of where energy comes from. Please take your propaganda elsewhere. In reality, star formation conserves energy (to a very good approximation). There are physical processes in the universe that don't--the expansion of the universe creates dark energy, because dark energy density is constant with time while the universe expands. In the same vein, radiation energy goes down with time because its energy density decreases as the fourth power of the universe's size, while volume only increases as the third power. But you don't see Wavelength trying to prove that God created dark energy, for the reason that the almighty Creator doesn't seem to know about this component of the universe that dominates all matter by a ratio of 2.7 to 1, and all stellar mass by a ratio of 200 to 1. --140.180.249.151 (talk) 22:24, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Did God tell you personally that He doesn't know about dark matter and dark energy? The OP specifically asked for philosophical explanations, and Wavelength supplied one. Dbfirs 22:38, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Did you even read his link? It talks about God creating stars. Creating stars does not create energy. The OP asked about the origin of energy. Even if Wavelength did provide a philosophical answer to the OP--which he didn't--philosophy is not a field in which anything and everything is accepted as valid. In particular, the argument from ignorance is widely regarded as fallacious, and every argument of the form "I don't why X happens; therefore God did it" is an argument of ignorance. --140.180.249.151 (talk) 23:02, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5 lines 166-7 (Hamlet to Horatio, though he could have said it to either of us!) Dbfirs 21:41, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Which part of "star formation does not create energy" or "the OP asked about the origin of energy" do you not understand? I'm having trouble believing in your good faith if you continue defending an answer that never mentions the word "energy" or anything related to it. --140.180.249.151 (talk) 05:29, 29 November 2012 (UTC)

I see mass and energy as two aspects of the same thing (per Einstein), so I was puzzled about why you felt it necessary to shoot down a good-faith reply by Wavelength. See Mass–energy equivalence and the recently confirmed God particle (though it accounts for only 1% of the mass in the universe — the other 99% of measured mass is really energy!) The OP asked for "philosophical speculations". Perhaps you can provide one? Dbfirs 19:22, 29 November 2012 (UTC)

You might be interested in another "borderline science" theory that the whole universe has, and has always had, zero total energy. See the article: Zero-energy universe (including some of the deleted content for way-out ideas that have a philosophical slant). Dbfirs 22:38, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Idiots guide to 2011 UK census release calendar

 Done

For reference, I'm the idiot.

I have been trying to understand the UK 2011 census data without, so far, fully understanding the terminology used by the ONS. So here is what I would like:

1. 2011 population and area for Ely (ONS E04001630 12UC011)^*
2. 2011 population and area for Stretham (E04001643 12UC024)^* NOTE: Not the ward Stretham & Thetford!
3. 2011 population and area for Little Thetford (E04001647 12UC028)^*

^*census codes from file PAR_DEC_2011_EN_NC from names and codes for administrative geography—parishes As far as I can ascertain, the 2011 parish level population statistics have not yet been released although there was a recent ONS release of Lower-Level-Output-Area population statistics, including wards. There is, on the other hand, parish level population data available for 2001 at Neighbourhood statistics.

My question is therefore: For 2011, is there a parish level population statistic available yet? Will one be produced? When?

Thank you in advance --Senra (talk) 16:02, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Have you tried asking here? Ghmyrtle (talk) 17:12, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

No, you are not an idiot. The ONS website is extremely hard to navigate and understand. It may have made sense to the people who developed it, but not much thought was given to users' needs or expectations. Marco polo (talk) 18:44, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Did you get an answer from asking at Ghmyrtle's link? I have a weird workaround for you if not, but it's complicated. If you use the map here, you can zoom in on an area you want (for example, Ely), and select each individual census area (Ely seems to be composed of at least eight). Use the dropdown menu under "click an area to update table" to find out the LSOA code for that area (for example, one piece of Ely is called East Cambridgeshire 003F/E01033426). Then go download the excel table here (it's the one called "Output Areas (OAs) in the East", fifth from the top), and click on the LSOA sheet (tab at the bottom of the document) to get the number for that specific piece/code (in this case, 1,510 residents). Repeat and add up for other areas that make up Ely. Repeat for your other areas etc. There must be an easier way, but that's all I've got. 184.147.123.169 (talk) 15:47, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Ha ha. I like the response from Marco Polo; especially where I am told I'm not an idiot. He he. Not yet, Ghmyrtle, but I will ask the ONS customer service; thank you. It is however highly likely that the ONS has not yet produced a parish level population statistic, otherwise someone would have corrected us by now and told us where to find such a statistic. I had considered your work-around 184.147.123.169 but I discounted it on the basis that such a solution would be original research. Thank you all for your valuable input --Senra (talk) 16:42, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

It might not be original research (assuming you want this information for a Wikipedia mainspace article). See this paragraph WP:CALC of the OR policy

Routine calculations do not count as original research. Basic arithmetic, such as adding numbers, converting units, or calculating a person's age, is allowed provided there is consensus among editors that the calculation is an obvious, correct, and meaningful reflection of the sources...

The original research or original synthesis would not be in adding up the columns (something that can be verified by any reader without checking a published and cited total), but in picking boundaries. If the parcels all fall within well-recognized boundaries for Ely, that should be fine so long as you specify the definition of Ely that's being used. On the other hand, saying "to blazes with the Boundary Commission, everyone knows what the real Ely is, or should look like" relying only on your own judgement and good sense (or on someone else's published definition without citing the source) would be OR.—— Shakescene (talk) 06:32, 29 November 2012 (UTC)

Question answered by ONS customer service. Release 2.2, due for publication 30 January 2013, will contain Information for "wards, parishes and parliamentary constituencies". See also Release plans for 2011 Census statistics. I was slightly confused when I read the 2.2 release as the recent (November) release also contained wards. I was told that release 2.2 contains more detailed ward level statistics; not just population. The very helpful ONS customer services representative urged caution in adding up Output-Areas (OA) or wards to arrive at a parish population statistic, as not all OA's or wards in England are coterminous with parishes. Question: Will the release 2.2 statistics on parishes be migrated to Neighbourhood statistics? Answer: Yes. But not before 30 January 2013. See also our article ONS coding system for a description of ONS census codes --Senra (talk) 11:56, 29 November 2012 (UTC)

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

Does this name predate the 1900s? Or is it a later revival of a traditional Maori name? The oldest source I found on Google Books was a 1961 Maori dictionary of place names. How did European explorers and settlers in the 1800s transliterate it originally? Did they use different letters, hyphenate it, broke it up into different words, etc.? Is there any books from the 1800s, written by a European that speaks about this mountain. Or did they use another name for it, or never bother to visit it or write the name down. --KAVEBEAR (talk) 21:59, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

I have no idea when Taumata was named. I have managed to discover that the then Lieutenant Cook did not name the hill when he first sailed close to the area on 17 October 1769. His description can be found on pages 307–308 of 1773 Cook, James in Hawkesworth, John An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, ... Captain Cook, ... in the Endeavour:, Volume 2, W Strahan and T Cadell, London. His southern most point during that part of the voyage was 40°34′S 177°05′E. I hope this helps --Senra (talk) 22:54, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

The United States Supreme Court Overruling Itself Twice

Have there been any cases throughout history where the US SC overruled itself twice? I was discussing this issue with someone else, and discussed the possibility of the US SC re-legalizing abortion eventually in the hypothetical event of a repeal of Roe v. Wade. The person that I was talking to said that he never heard of a case where the US SC overruled itself on twice. My question is, has there ever been such a case/issue? Futurist110 (talk) 22:55, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

Taking a quick look over the List of overruled U.S. Supreme Court decisions page, I don't see any scenario where they overruled twice. Zzyzx11 (talk) 04:14, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Not sure if these are technically overrulling decisions but over the centuries the Supreme Court has allowed disallowed then allowed again the death penalty. See here: List of United States Supreme Court decisions on capital punishment.

^{Market St.⧏} _{⧐ Diamond Way} 04:35, 2 December 2012 (UTC)